Unfortunately I didn't notice that my cell phone went into "keys locked" modus so when they showed that an untightened loop (actually hanging loose from the cutter) is also cut through cleanly the dammit phone failed to be quick enough to get it. Will have to wait until next year and then post it

We could also see the STRATOS CYPRES.

Got some nice pull-up bands, they are really good and last for a hundreds of pack jobs

Got some nice pull-up bands, they are really good and last for a hundreds of pack jobs

How long they last is not necessarily the best measure for how good stow bands are.

Pull up cords, not stow bands.

The cypres and paragear pull ups are nice, in that the tapered ends are smooth, unlike some others that have a rough edge that makes it more difficult to get past the the loop, with more wear likely. I do it in a way such that it doesn't matter, but many just pull it through.

What relevance does this have to me as a sport parachutist? I'm not using it to steal a bike (though maybe I should).

The purpose of this demonstration is to show the cutter is able to cleanly cut even very tough material. As I wrote before, I unfortunately missed to record the more interesting part: It also CLEANLY cuts a loop that is NOT tightened, not put into a plastic tubing. Even then it doesn't fail to do what it is thought for.

What relevance does this have to me as a sport parachutist? I'm not using it to steal a bike (though maybe I should).

The purpose of this demonstration is to show the cutter is able to cleanly cut even very tough material. As I wrote before, I unfortunately missed to record the more interesting part: It also CLEANLY cuts a loop that is NOT tightened, not put into a plastic tubing. Even then it doesn't fail to do what it is thought for.

Nope, the purpose of the demo is to sell AADs. I wouldn't be surprised if an Argus cut a ripcord cable. As someone else mentioned an un tensioned loop has a different set of problems when you try and cut it (I have no doubt a cypres would cut it)

The purpose of this demonstration is to show the cutter is able to cleanly cut even very tough material

Why is that something that should concern me when buying an AAD?

SIGH!As I wrote before: I - unfortunately - missed to tape the "proof of the pudding" when an actual loop - under pretty bad circumstances (not tightened, hanging loose, no plastic tubing) was also cut through, neat and clean!

If I had known a number of folks don't read my article in full I would have refrained from posting and would have waited until I'm able to post the vid with the loop being cut...

The purpose of this demonstration is to show the cutter is able to cleanly cut even very tough material

Why is that something that should concern me when buying an AAD?

SIGH!As I wrote before: I - unfortunately - missed to tape the "proof of the pudding" when an actual loop - under pretty bad circumstances (not tightened, hanging loose, no plastic tubing) was also cut through, neat and clean!

If I had known a number of folks don't read my article in full I would have refrained from posting and would have waited until I'm able to post the vid with the loop being cut...

Hey, it's just miscommunication. All people are saying is it is a marketing gimmick. Yes it's fun and interesting, but it holds little relevance to what it is designed to do.

I'm giving up. One last remark, though. The demonstration of a loose loop being cut cleanly holds relevance: If it does cut the loop even when it is not tightened, it definitely will cut the loop in the way it is set up in a reserve.

I don't get the cable thing eather. It's just to impress the ignorant, of which there are plenty in this sport. The loop cutting demo is cool though. I fermly beleave that any cutter should have this capability and pass this test. We've been flying a vigil on the last two launches. We're thinking about going from the pin puller we are useing to just the vigil cutter. Curently we have one linked to our computer just as a backup to the pinpuller which has turned out to be problmatic. In testing they were cutting two layers of thousand pound HMA with it to sever the loop. It cut cleanly with no hang ups of any kind with NO tension on it. Right now we are useing it to cut two layers of 500 lb vectran. That's what we used on the last flight. I've got vid on my computer of it cutting the loops but I don't know how to post it dirrectly to the thread.

For another partially irrelevant but interesting test, attached are photos from my test from last year where four untensioned CYPRES loops were inserted into the cutter -- as many as I could cram through the hole.

The result was 3 cut loops, and one that still had roughly one or two of its 'bundles' of thread (out of 12 I think) that wasn't cut. Putting tension on both ends, it is clear that those strands have not been cut.

Pretty good I figure, getting through most of 4* 450lbs = 1800 lbs of Spectra.

I have video; don't know if I'll bother to post. The 'tops' of the loops were pointing up slightly when tested (as in photo 1). The three tops of the loops that got cut, they shot right off the table -- the cutter spat them out with a lot of force.

(I annotated the photo of the closeup just so it isn't as easy for the photo to get out there without being taken in context -- it isn't a "cutter failure"!)

I'm giving up. One last remark, though. The demonstration of a loose loop being cut cleanly holds relevance: If it does cut the loop even when it is not tightened, it definitely will cut the loop in the way it is set up in a reserve.

Sheldor AFK

As I say it is a miscommunication. The slack loop is 100% relevant, so would demos of cutters that have been exposed to harsh abuse ( sand or grit in the hole, cutter left in water or salt water).

Interesting test with an interesting result, heh heh. 4 loop crammed into the cutter. Reminds me of the examples of reserve "loops" on display at Airtec's manufacture that were fabricated by a number of riggers before the CYPRES loop was invented. Some were made of old suspension lines, mainly Dacron. Such "loops" are a tough challenge, indeed. Thank engineering and Airtec's generosity, this is no longer necessary as CYPRES loops (and the "smiley" discs) are given away for free. IIRC they have forked out more than 1,000,000 loops up to now.

@RiggerLee - Thanks for your report, interesting. As for "impressing the ignorant". Heck, I'm a physicist so I'm fond of all kinds of experiments. Add "male physicist" and you know I like BOOM, POW, PUFF But yeah, I know cutting a loop that is not perfectly fitted is the real challenge and I think Airtec has sufficiently shown their products are capable of doing so. Even NASA has used Airtec technology, heh heh.

Ha! Even though I am long out of the sport (not sure why I visit this forum every other day still though) I have something relevant to comment on.

Just this weekend I took my ages old and turned into a pumpkin Cypres and used the cutter to chop through a coat hanger.

Considered using a ripcord cable but didn't have one I could spare.

So... my thoughts are:

- Yes, impressive to know that the cutter has enough oomph to chop through metal - It doesn't take a physics major to know that "Yes, a rigid piece of metal is NOT the same thing as a cypres closing loop - under tension or not" - especially to those of us who worked with the material on a daily basis for years packing reserves. - However, the demo IS worthwhile - it shows non-technical minded jumpers that they are carrying a piece of gear with some good engineering and power to it. If it helps them move a few more units of a quality product, who gives a toss?

However, the demo IS worthwhile - it shows non-technical minded jumpers that they are carrying a piece of gear with some good engineering and power to it. If it helps them move a few more units of a quality product, who gives a toss?

- However, the demo IS worthwhile - it shows non-technical minded jumpers that they are carrying a piece of gear with some good engineering and power to it. If it helps them move a few more units of a quality product, who gives a toss?

Depends on whether it's (a) relevant and (b) not misleading to said non-technical minded consumers.

Probably gonna piss some people off with this, but... With the amazing things going on in modern technology... I don't see why so many people are so impressed with a mechanism that can cut a cable.. Am i missing something?

Trying cutting a ripcord steel cable with a good pair of pliers, there should be no problem. Using the same pliers, try now to cut a Spectra reserve closing loop and you will see it's another story. Steel is a material so different than synthetic fiber. Making an assumption that if it cut steel it will cut a synthetic fiber thread is erroneous. Also, the electronic AAD's have a chemical explosive charge and no wonder they can cut a 1/8 diameter steel cable. Synthetic fibers have amazing features. Just think about Kevlar used in bullet safe jackets.

well it also have a pretty good record of cutting spectra, even without tension. The only cases I heard of one of these cutters not cutting the spectra loops was because the loop was NOT routed through the hole. Unlike some others

well it also have a pretty good record of cutting spectra, even without tension. The only cases I heard of one of these cutters not cutting the spectra loops was because the loop was NOT routed through the hole. Unlike some others

But Robs informative post, goes to show that the 'test' is a lovely marketing gimmick. Technically cutting the untensioned spectra is harder, but that's not what people come away talking about.